Develop your green business idea in the Greenhouse programme

Applications for the Greenhouse climate entrepreneurship programme are open. The programme offers business coaching and a strong European network.

The Greenhouse programme is seeking students, researchers, and professionals interested in climate entrepreneurship to apply by 30 November. The search is on for business ideas connected with cleantech and innovative climate solutions, products, and services. One example of such a business idea might be a renewable energy service or a product that makes efficient use of recycled materials.

The programme offers early stage entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop their business ideas systematically over a period of six months under the direction of professionals. In addition, the teams will get help in marketing, for instance. Greenhouse will be implemented in the first half of 2018.

'Greenhouse is the first phase on the way to climate entrepreneurship - the programme can be used as a stepping stone to being among the best in Europe. This is made possible especially by the extensive networks that will open up to the teams that are selected to take part', says Chief Impact Officer Ville Luukkanen of Impact Iglu - Aalto University's impact business accelerator for responsible businesses.

This year there were five participating teams when the programme was implemented for the first time. For instance, Elwedo, a startup in the energy sector, is developing a platform that links producers of renewable energy directly with customers.

'The Greenhouse programme has been of great importance for us. We have developed our business model, networked, and learned much about the market that we are entering', says Tuomas Koivunen of Elwedo.

Greenhouse is part of the EU-funded innovation programme EIT Climate-CIC, which Aalto University joined as a partner in 2015. The programme is coordinated in Finland by Impact Iglu.